Hitchcocks Forum

hi all i am thinking about buying a what i believe to be a 1949 royal enfield 350 isdt trials bike ?how can i tell what it is and how much would it be worth ,the bike has stood in the guys living room for the past 22yrs or so previous to that he bought off a 60 yrs old guy who told him it was an isdt and that was why it had an all alloy engine not a cast barrel with a sprung seat and sump guard that are with the bike problem is there's no engine no and not registered can some one plz point me in the right direction as to buy or not thanks mike.

Ooooh a can of worms! Sorry, it's just that this is so hard to unravel. First, read Don Morley's "Classic British Four Stroke Trials Bikes" which has an excellent section on Works and ISDT Enfields with lots of pictures. Second, it will almost certainly have an engine and frame number (after all, ISDT and Trials bikes of the era had to be ridden on the road and had to be entered into a challenging competition so had to have proper registration documents which need the numbers to be displayed,) so look harder. And don't say where? Where do you think, and keep looking 'til you find one. The Royal Enfield Owners Club has all the Factory records which include the Works machines, try joining and getting the info from them, you will have to pay to join. (Not much.) Alloy barrel and sump guard are items that were available to any ordinary customer so not a unique feature. Price? So unusual I can't guess but if genuine, £10K? The registration number could be traced if you could find it? If you post pics it would help. Good luck,we'll try to help,
REgards, Mark

Hi Mike,

I'd agree with Mark; joining the club is inexpensive and you'd have access to all sorts of information then. Google Royal Enfield Owners Club. Anybody else got ideas?

Good luck, Chris

It will have had a frame number even if it was never road registered (though if it was ISDT it would have been). With this number and a letter from REOC you will be able to get an age related plate should you want to register it. Graham at REOC will have all the details I'm sure.

hi think iv messed up buying this enfield so now i think i gonna sell it ?if any one interested plz e mail [email protected]

So in 48 hours you've gone from "thinking about buying" to wanting to sell? You must excuse me for thinking that a little odd.

Pete, my thought too. My original comments were me trying to hide my suspicions that this might be a scam. (I have a pal who owns the original 1948 prototype Trials Bullet among some other ex-Works and ISDT machines.) REgards, Mark

Mike, where abouts are you. If reasonable local to West Midlands I could come and have a look to help you identify what you have. Richard

Can you tell us why you think you've messed up Mike?

why have i messed up well io have bought a bike thats stood for 22yrs and no reg no and no engine no and only 4 frame no digits what else can i say, how ever i do have some pics if some can plz help me out ,i thought it might convert into a clasic mx so i could do pre 65 scrambles but i think the way forward is to part with one off ny twinshock mx bikes and buy a proper jobsorry i could not get back on here as i forgot my password thanks mike.